APPLICATION NOTE

Determination of Peracetic Acid (PAA) and Hydrogen

Peroxide (H2O2) in Water
Concentration Range of 0.01 to 35% (Titration)
Equipment and Reagents:
Digital Titrator – Hach PN 2270900
Delivery Tubes for Digital Titrator – Hach PN 1720500
Flask, Erlenmeyer, 125-mL– Hach PN 50543
Sulfuric Acid Standard Solution, 5.25 N – Hach PN 244932
Ferroin Indicator Solution – Hach PN 181233
Ceric Standard Solution Titration Cartridge, 0.5 N – Hach PN 2270701
Sulfite 1 Reagent Powder Pillows, pk/100 – Hach PN 220399
0.2 N Sodium Thiosulfate Digital Titrator Cartridge – Hach PN 2267501
2.0 N Sodium Thiosulfate Digital Titrator Cartridge – Hach PN 1440101

Titration Procedure:
H2O2 Titration
Cool Deionized Water and Sulfuric Acid Solution to ~4°C before beginning test
(1) Select the sample volume from Table 1 which corresponds to the expected H2O2 and PAA concentration.
(2) Insert a clean delivery tube into the Ceric Standard Solution Titration Cartridge and attach the cartridge to
the titrator body. See General Description, Step by Step in the Digital Titrator manual for more information.
(3) Hold the Digital Titrator with the cartridge tip pointing up. Turn the delivery knob until a few drops of titrant
are expelled. Reset the counter to zero and wipe the tip.
(4) Pour approximately 75 mLs of cold DI water into the 125-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
(5) Use a graduated cylinder or pipet to measure the sample volume from Table 1. Transfer the sample to the
125-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
(6) Add 5 drops of the cold 5.25 N H2SO4 to the DI water. Add one drop of the Ferroin Indicator Solution to the
DI water, swirl to mix.
(7) Place the delivery tip into the solution. While titrating with Ceric Standard Solution, swirl the flask until the
solution color changes from orange to a pale blue. Record the number of digits required and calculate:
Digits Required x Digit Multiplier = % H2O2. Do not discard titrated sample, this sample is used in the PAA
titration below.

PAA Titration:
(1) Replace the Ceric Standard Solution Titrant Cartridge with the 0.2 N Sodium Thiosulfate Cartridge or the 2.0
N Sodium Thiosulfate Cartridge. See Table 1 to choose which cartridge to use based on the expected PAA
concentration. If you don’t want to change out the titrant cartridges each time during the titration, you can
use two Digital Titrators to perform this titration.
(2) Add the contents of one Sulfite 1 Reagent powder pillow to the 125-mL Erlenmeyer flask and swirl to mix.
The solution will turn dark brownish purple.
 (3) Place the delivery tip into the solution. While titrating with Sodium Thiosulfate Solution, swirl the flask until
the solution color changes from brown to the original orange color from the H2O2 titration. Record the
number of digits required and calculate: Digits Required x Digit Multiplier = % or mg/L PAA.

Table 1
Expected Sample Concentration Titration Cartridge Ceric Sample Volume (mL) Digit Multiplier
for H2O2 Standard Solution (N)
2 - 10% 0.5 0.2 0.0053
0.5 - 2% 0.5 0.5 0.00212
0.1 - 0.5% 0.5 1.0 0.00106
0.05 - 0.1% 0.5 2.0 0.00053
0.01 - 0.05% 0.5 5.0 0.000212

Expected Sample Titration Cartridge Sodium Sample Volume (mL) Digit Multiplier
Concentration for PAA Thiosulfate (N)
5 - 35% 2.0 0.2 0.0475
2 - 10% 2.0 0.5 0.0190
1 - 5% 2.0 1.0 0.0095
0.5 - 1% 2.0 2.0 0.00475
0.2 - 0.5% 2.0 5.0 0.0019
0.1 - 0.2% 2.0 10 0.00095
1000 - 5000 mg/L 0.2 1 9.5
500 - 2500 mg/L 0.2 2 4.75
200 - 1000 mg/L 0.2 5 1.9
100 - 500 mg/L 0.2 10 0.95
Note: To convert % to mg/L, multiply the % value by 10,000 to get mg/L values. To convert mg/L to %, divide the mg/L value by
10,000 to get % values.

Safety Precautions:
Peracetic acid is a strong oxidizer and corrosive. Handling of 35% PAA needs to be done in a hood. Wear gloves, safety
glasses, face shield and lab coat. Spills need to be diluted with water immediately. Avoid contact of 35% PAA with
organic material.

Standardization of Ceric Solution:

The normality of the Ceric Solution will decrease over time. Before use, verify the normality with the following
procedure. This standardization should be done monthly.
1) Use a graduated cylinder or pipet to measure 50 mL of deionized water into a 125-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
2) Add 5 mL of 19.2 N Sulfuric Acid Standard Solution (Hach PN 203832). Swirl to mix.
3) Insert a clean delivery tube into a Ceric Standard Titration Cartridge.
4) Hold the Digital Titrator with the cartridge tip pointing up. Turn the delivery knob until a few drops of titrant are
expelled. Reset the counter to zero and wipe the tip.
5) Place the delivery tube tip into the solution. While swirling the flask, add 200 digits of Ceric Standard Solution.
6) Insert a clean delivery tube into a 0.2 N Sodium Thiosulfate Titration Cartridge.
7) Hold the Digital Titrator with the cartridge tip pointing up. Turn the delivery knob to until a few drops of titrant
are expelled. Reset the counter to zero and wipe the tip.
8) Place the delivery tube tip into the solution. While swirling the flask, titrate with the sodium thiosulfate from an
intense yellow color to a faint yellow color. Record the number of digits required. This step should require
about 400-450 digits of titrant.
9) Add one drop of Ferroin Indicator Solution, swirl to mix. The solution will turn a faint blue.
 10) Continue titrating the Ceric Standard Solution (using the 0.2 Sodium Thiosulfate Titration Cartridge) from faint
blue to orange color. Record the number of digits required.
11) Calculate the correction factor:

Correction Factor = Digits Required / 500

12) Multiply the % H2O2 from Step 7 in the H2O2 titration procedure by the correction factor to obtain the correct
H2O2 concentration.

FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PRICE INFORMATION AND ORDERING:

Tel: 800-227-4224 | E-Mail: techhelp@hach.com
To locate the HACH office or distributor serving you, visit: www.hach.com

LIT2199
© Hach Company, 2014. All rights reserved.
In the interest of improving and updating its equipment, Hach Company reserves the right to alter specifications to equipment at any time.